Faith Takes the Train – Judy Bradbury

I reached out to Kesi to invite her to join me on Children’s Book Corner because Faith Take the Train is empowering and encouraging. It is an ideal read-aloud choice to reinforce an atmosphere of positivity, kindness, service, connection, and care in the classroom and wider school and neighborhood community.

Judy Bradbury: Tell us about this project: What seeded its creation? How did you conceive of the theme/focus of Faith Takes the Train?

Kesi Augustine: I was writing throughout the 2020 lockdown in New York City, and I felt a strong push to finally take my artwork seriously. I decided that it was time to use my talent for something meaningful. I took a writing workshop with Sukina Douglas on the power of listening to your heart. Then I joined the Diverse Streets Initiative in Queens, NY. My poems were featured as installation pieces during their local events for food justice. At the same time, I was helping to keep our community fridge clean. I felt so much purpose!

Suddenly, a colleague at the Gotham Writers Workshop invited me to a pitching session in the fall of 2020. I told myself that it was now or never. I had to write something—fast. I was taking the train to work, surrounded by neighbors in need. I would steal moments of writing in my classroom, surrounded by newspapers. I remembered the gentle words of Saint Theresa of Avila from the writing workshop: “Every one of us is a traveler.” All of these themes came together in a strike of inspiration.

JB: This is your debut picture book! Tell us about your writing journey.

KA: I’ve always had an obsession with writing. My parents and teachers nourished this interest throughout my childhood.

One of my favorite writing memories is this:

Seemingly out of the blue, my parents shared some intriguing news with me: there was a writing contest for the centennial of the New York City subway. I wrote a poem on my little PC. One morning, just before my commute to school, my dad helped me to put the poem into a fancy manila envelope. We kissed it good luck. It was my 14th birthday.

A few months later, I learned I had won! My poem, “Sleepless,” was featured on train cars through the Poetry in Motion series. For a whole year, I would hunt for my poem on the train. This was also my first strike of independence. I had begun to take the subway alone into Manhattan for school every day. I loved it.

“Sleepless” taught me that writing can bring people together. An upperclassman who was a super cool spoken word poet told me that they loved “Sleepless” so much: one night, while riding the rain, they broke the overhead poster holder and pulled my poem out! An unfamiliar commuter found my school address so she could send me a heartfelt thank you card. I will never forget that excitement.

Now that I write this, I realize New York has always been my biggest support with writing. I’ve had pieces published with help from High Five Tickets to the Arts, 826NYC, and the Asian American Writers Workshop, all organizations that helped me to connect locally, appreciate diversity, collaborate with my peers, and use my voice to contribute to a community.

I am so very proud of the woman I have become through Faith. I have written in spurts, then stopped for years. I’ve finally become more consistent because of this book, supported by my agent, editor, and illustrator’s expertise.

Kesi’s poem “Sleepless”

JB: Tell us about a challenge you faced in the creation of Faith Takes the Train, or provide a memorable (or humorous!) anecdote related to the writing of the book. 

KA: I think the biggest challenge was letting go of the idea of hiding. Once the book was published, there would be no turning back! And that was terrifying. I thought I needed to be perfect in order to be a writer.

JB: What is one unexpected joy that came from the creation of Faith Takes the Train?

KA: Putting myself out there! I am very introverted, but I love sharing Faith at local literacy festivals, in bookstores, in museums—anywhere that may be filled with a sea of young readers. Who knew? I enjoy the challenge of making interactive tables that draw in writers, teachers, family members, and inquisitive children. It’s been an unexpectedly fun expression of my creative side. I feel like I can become a character for the day. My table is my universe.

JB: What is your favorite illustration in the book? Why?

KA: The peanut butter and jelly feast is one of the best moments. I love to eat! There’s always an Uncrustable tucked away in my purse for emotional support. My favorite flavor is raspberry.

 Illustration © Mokshini

JB: I love that! What would surprise readers to learn about the writing of Faith Takes the Train?

KA: I wrote Faith to help me be a better human. I often feel I have missed opportunities to express love and kindness to others, and even to myself. Faith is the friend who inspires me to be more present and self-forgiving every day. 

JB: Who do you perceive your target audience to be and why?

KA: People of all ages who appreciate overlooked details in our lives. People who find magic in the ordinary, who have idealistic hearts. I’m quite the loner, and I’m the odd one out (no matter how hard I try). I finally see this as a gift. I think this helps me to find stories everywhere. 

JB: What do you hope young listeners/readers will take away from Faith Takes the Train?

KA: I hope young readers will know that the biggest gift they can offer the world is–-themselves! You don’t have to do anything to be “better.” We can best help one another by doing what feels right in our hearts. This story validates my need to embrace the sweet side of my inner child.

JB: How do you see Faith Takes the Train connecting to curriculum or being used in learning settings?

KA: Faith can support discussions about kindness, unhoused neighbors, mutual aid, and even analysis of transportation (maps and routes).

Faith encourages creative expression (especially with food).

Faith is also filled with spirit and might be encouraging to readers on their own spiritual journeys.

So far, Faith Takes the Train has been featured in a Kindness Mural, as well as the Coffee Can Theater at the Florida Children’s Museum, where the book inspired a range of stories about caring and generosity (July 2025).

I’ve also used Faith as the inspiration for creating kindness cards with a group of students in Grades K-3 (July 2025, Deeper Root Academy).

JB: If you could ask your young readers a question, what would it be?

KA: If you could take a train ride anywhere in the world, where would you go?

 JB: What project(s) are you currently working on?

KA: I am working on so many projects: it keeps me sane! I have a series of picture books in a series I’ve called “Art Is Life.” Each manuscript features a little protagonist finding art, beauty, and memory in their ordinary lives as they collage, perform poems, and take pictures. I have some older manuscripts, too: an ode to the bodega, and a character’s quest to confront their illiteracy. I am also writing an adventurous middle grade graphic novel inspired by the trash crisis in New York City.

 JB: What is one question you wish I had asked, and what is your answer?

KA: Where do you feel the most at home?
Answer: In water!